{"id":1242,"date":"2023-08-04T11:13:19","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T10:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/?p=1242"},"modified":"2023-08-04T11:13:19","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T10:13:19","slug":"national-strategy-needed-to-ensure-no-one-is-left-behind-in-the-digital-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk\/digital-first\/2023\/08\/04\/national-strategy-needed-to-ensure-no-one-is-left-behind-in-the-digital-world\/","title":{"rendered":"National strategy needed to ensure no-one is left behind in the digital world"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Dorset Council has welcomed a new independent report calling for a national strategy on digital inclusion.<\/p>\n

For the past decade the council has led many local initiatives to help get people online \u2013 from rolling out superfast broadband to nearly 80,000 premises, gifting devices to people in need and creating a community of digital champions.<\/p>\n

However, without further national support, the council\u2019s ability to help bridge the digital divide and ensure no one is left behind is limited.<\/p>\n

The council supports the House of Lords\u2019 cross-party Communications and Digital Committee\u2019s call for the government to produce a digital inclusion strategy.<\/p>\n

As a rural county, Dorset is particularly affected by some of the main barriers to digital inclusion.<\/p>\n

Age is one of the main reasons that 2.4 million people in the UK still lack even the most basic of digital skills \u2013 the 2021 Census showed Dorset has a much higher proportion of residents who are aged over 65 years (29.6%) compared with regional and national averages.<\/p>\n

Poor connectivity affects rural areas more than urban areas.<\/p>\n

Although 97% of Dorset premises now have superfast broadband, the county falls behind when it comes to gigabit-capable speeds.\u00a0 Just over 36% of Dorset premises can get gigabit-capable speeds \u2013 compared to 84.8% in neighbouring Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole (BCP) Council area. (Source: Think Broadband<\/a>)<\/p>\n

The picture is even more stark when it comes to mobile connectivity, with some parts of Dorset having among the worst coverages in the UK.<\/a><\/p>\n

And like everywhere in the country, Dorset residents are being impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, which is seeing people unable to afford their internet and mobile phone bills and buy devices.<\/p>\n

Dorset Council\u2019s digital champion, Cllr Jill Haynes, said: \u201cWe very much welcome the Communications and Digital Committee\u2019s report.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very pleased that the committee recognised the role local authorities can play in helping people to become more digitally included and that we are already doing many of the things they recommend \u2013 such as community digital champions and recycling our devices to help people in need.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are grateful for the support the government has given to Dorset, especially when it comes to broadband connectivity through the national Project Gigabit and Gigabit voucher schemes.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, we agree that a more strategic direction and funding is needed if we are truly able to tackle all the barriers that lead to digital exclusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cDigital offers up so many benefits to the economy and to an individual\u2019s well-being that it\u2019s essential that no-one is left behind in this increasingly digital world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The House of Lords committee highlighted how digital exclusion is affecting millions of people today.<\/p>\n

More than 2 million people lack even the most basic of digital skills and more than half of these are aged 75 and over. Another 10.2 million lack all the skills needed to get by in today\u2019s digital world.<\/p>\n

Around 1.7 million households have no broadband or mobile internet at all, and 1.4 million households are struggling to pay their broadband bills and 2.3 million struggled with mobile bills.<\/p>\n

In Dorset, nearly a third of residents are digitally excluded because of a lack of skills, poor connectivity or affordability.<\/p>\n

The House of Lords committee is calling for the government to address:<\/p>\n